Xi: Advance stud8k8 appy of tracing nation's origins

Improved comprehension of Chinese civilization key for cultural confidence

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has urged further efforts to advance the study of Chinese civilization so its achievements can help the nation firm up cultural confidence and stick to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi called for the efforts on Friday afternoon while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on a national research program dedicated to tracing the origins of Chinese civilization.

Xi said that Chinese civilization is time-honored, extensive and profound, and it is the cultural identity of the Chinese nation, the foundation of contemporary Chinese culture, the cultural bond holding all Chinese around the globe together, and a treasure trove inspiring cultural innovation.

He called for better understanding of the more than 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization to strengthen historical awareness and cultural confidence of the Party and the whole of society in realizing national rejuvenation.

During the group study session, Xi commended the achievements in the study of the national project of tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. The study was launched in 2002 with about 400 scholars across the country in 20 disciplines of natural and social sciences taking part.

Further efforts should be made to link the study on the origins of Chinese civilization with other major issues, including the features and forms of Chinese civilization, in order to explore and explain how a sense of community among the Chinese people was developed and how Chinese people of all ethnic groups are united in diversity, he said.

He underlined the need to adapt China's fine traditional culture to socialist society and display the unique symbol of the Chinese nation to bolster "the Chinese spirit, Chinese values and Chinese strength".

Noting that Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times, Xi said it has gained new vitality through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations.

He underlined the importance of upholding equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness in cultural exchanges, saying different countries' development paths should be respected.

Efforts should be made to carry forward the common values of humanity that Chinese civilization epitomizes and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

He also stressed the importance of protecting cultural relics and heritage, and called for efforts to actively promote the protection and utilization of those cultural relics.

Wang Wei, director and researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Academic Division of History, gave a lecture about the national research program to the participants of Friday's group study session.

He told China Daily that four archaeological sites from between 3500 and 1500 BC－Liangzhu in Zhejiang province, Taosi in Shanxi province, Shimao in Shaanxi province, and Erlitou in Henan province－have been the focus of relevant studies, and other major city ruins from this period along the Yangtze, Yellow and Liaohe rivers were also highlighted.

"The research has greatly contributed to our understanding of characteristics of Chinese civilization," Wang said. "Its development has been continuous, and various roots of our civilization were linked with and frequently had exchanges with each other."

He added, "We welcome overseas scholars to join our upcoming research in the project and thus usher in our studies of ancient Chinese civilization to be a crucial part of general studies of world civilization."